Suction lifting implement



W. STADER.

SUCTION LIFTING IMPLEMENT.

APPLICATION FILED 1AN.6, 1921.

1 100,573. Patented Dec. 20, 1921.

N INVENTOR -T 1 BY M ATTOR ag /d, Mmi

wrnmmm STAJJER, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SUCTION LIF'I'ING- IMPLEMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 20, 1921.

Application filed January 6, 1921. Serial No. 435,409: 7

TocZZ whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, WILLIAM STADER,

a citizen of the United States, and a resi-c A further object of the invention is toprovide an implement or tool of the character referred to which can be easily applied to a sheet or blank and which is section on the line 22 Fig. 1 looking in the d1rect ion of the arrows.

Fig. 3 1s a bottom plan view of the suction cup.

In lifting, transferring, positioning, or otherwise handling sheet metal blanks, sheets, plates, and the like, difficulty and danger have heretefore been experienced, by reason of the difliculty inpicking-up a thin sheet metal blank or plate, for instance from a table or bench surface or from the top of a. pile or stack of such sheets or plates, as well as in positioning the same inplace 1n astamping machine or die press. Frequently the surfaces of such blanks are oily and hence difficult to grasp in the fingers. In handling and positioning such plates in presses it is a common expedient to employ gages to determine the proper positionlng of the blank with reference to the dies. Thisis done sometimes by the ,hands of the operator and sometimes by readily and easily releasable from such blank or sheet.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tool or implement of the nature referred to which may be grasped at random by the handle and applied in lifting relation to a sheet or plate and the sheet or plate lifted, transported, or positioned by the tool, without requiring any special action or operation of the hand or fingers of the operator and which may be readily,

' easily, and conveniently released from the sheet or plate when the latter has been transferred to or positioned in the desired place by the operation of the thumb of the operator.

Further objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists substantially, in

the construction, combination, location and relative arrangement of parts, all as will be 'more fully hereinafter set forth, as

shown in the accompanying drawing and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawing and to the various signs and reference numerals appearing thereon.

Figure 1 is a view in top plan of a suction lifting implement embodying the principles of my invention, the ends of the handle and of the releasing member being broken off.

Fig. 2 is a view in longitudinal central source of air exhaust-i pincers or nipping tools and in either case 1t frequently happens that when the blank is released after beingpositioned against the gage stops the act of releasing the blank, causing it to become displaced. Moreover, particularly in the case of automatic, presses, when the blanks are positioned in place in the press the operator may be delayed in withdrawing his hands, with the result that the descending die mashes or injures the hand or fingers and painful occurrences of this nature are frequent in large factories where such automatic machines are employed.

It has been proposed to employ suction tools for moving and handling sheet metal plates, which tools have been connected to an exhaust pump for instance, but many factories are not equipped with exhaust pumps, and consequently the use of such tools is limited and usually such tools require a particular disposition of the hand of the operator in order to control the connection between the suction device and the This is undesirable as it requires concise effort on the part of theoperator in positioning his hand and the maintenance of his grip upon the implement in one position during the handling of the sheet metal blank. v

It is among the special purposes of my present invention to avoid the objections and defects above noted to provide a suction lifting implement which may be grasped by the handle at random and w thout pre determined position of the hand 1n grasplng the same, which may be applied to the sheet or blank to be handled, merely by the act of striking the implement upon the blank or the mouth of the suction cup of the impleat random by the hand of an operator. The

suction cup is constructed preferably of rubber or other flexible resilient material and T have found that the best results are obtained when said cup is constructed with a flaring bell-shaped mouth and when the wall portion 9 thereof (see Fig. 2) is of tape-rmg thickness from the hub portion of the cup to the rim or edge 12 of the flaring mouth. The hub portion 10 of the cup 1s secured flatwise against the under surface of the handle 5 at one extremity of the latter. This may be accomplished in any suitable or convenient manner. I have shown a simple arrangement wherein a threaded screw member 11 is inserted through the open or bell mouth of the cup and through a bore in the hub portion 10 of the cup and is screwed into a threaded opening in the end of the handle 5. A lock nut 13 applied to the extending end of the. screw at the upper slde of the handle 5 serves to clamp and retain the parts in position. The head of the screw 11 engages against the inner wall of the hub of the cup. The screw 11 is formed with a duct or passage 14 longitudinally therethrough. v

The releasing member 7 is plvotally mounted in any suitable or convenient man- 'ner upon the handle member 5. In the arrangement shown the handle member 5 is formed with ears 15' between which the re leasing member 7 is positioned and pivoted upon a stud 16, the releasing member'7 being disposed in parallel relation wlth respect to the handle member 5. One end of the releasing member extends over. the end of the screw 11 which extends through the handle member 5 and this end of the releasing member serves as a closurefor the end of the duct or passage 14 longitudinally through the screw 11. Tn order to provide an efficient closure for the duct or channel 14, the end of the releasing member 7 may be faced or covered with rubber or other material indicated at 17 applied thereto and which, seating against theend of the screw .11 constitutes in effect a releasable valve closure for the duct or channel passage 14. By tilting the releasing lever 7, however, the valve closure is lifted from the end of the screw 11, thereby opening the channel or passage 14 to theouter air. In practice the closure end of the releasing lever 7 is yieldingly maintained in seating contact with the end of the screw 11. This may be accomplished in any suitable or convenient manner, as, for instance, by means of a spring 18 interposed between the handle member 5 and the releasing member 7. The other extremity of the releasing member 7 extends into convenient relation with respect tothe hand grip portion 8 of the handle member 5 so that the releasing lever 7 may be rocked by the application of the thumb of the operator to said end of the releasing lever to release the opposite end of said releasing lever from seating engagement against the end of the screw 11 and hence from closure relation with respect to the channel or passage 14 through said screw.

The operation of a suction lifting implement embodying my invention and the use thereof is exceedingly simple. An operator grasps the handle member 5 by the hand grip portion 8 and brings the open mouth of the cup by a sharp stroke or blow down upon the surface of the sheet metal blank or plate to be lifted or handled, or the open mouth of the suction cup may be otherwise firmly pressed down upon the surface of such sheet metal blank or plate to be lifted or handled, or the open'mouth of the suction cup may be otherwise firmly pressed down upon the surface of such sheet metal blank or plate,

thereby creating more or'less of avacuum within the cup and hence causing the cup to become attached to the sheet or plate. The implement is, then lifted and with it the plate or sheet to be transferred, handled or positioned, and, where the tool is employed as a feeder for a press machine, for instance,

the plate carried by the cup is placed accurately in position with reference to the press gages or stops and then the operator depresses the releasing lever 7 with his thumb, thereby unseating the valve 'or closure from the end of the screw 11 and hence opening the duct or passage 14 andbreaking the vacuum within the cup.

In practice and in order to avoid the danger of spoiling, marring orinjuring or otherwise impairing the die of a press, for exam ple, when the tool is employed as a press feeder, I prefer to make the screw 11 of suitable sgft metal. My invention, however, is not to be limited or restricted in respect to this detail. I have found in the actual practical and successful use of tools embodying my invention, that sheet metal blanks, plates and other non-porous materials, can be easily 7 and quickly picked up from the surface of the bench or table or from the top of a stack or pileof such blanks or plates and removed, handled, or positioned in place in a die press and accurately positioned in such press, without danger of disturbance when released and when so placed or positioned such plate or blank may be readily, easily and quickly released. The tool is not confined in its use to blanks having planed surfaces but is also well adapted for picking up, handling, and positioning blanks of curved contour. Moreover, the hands or fingers of the press operator are removed from the danger of being accidentally cut by the dies and injured or maimed since the operator may position a blank in the die press by the use of the tool when his hands are removed from the line of operation of the dies. I have also found that plates having dampened, oily or greasy surfaces may be lifted, handled or positioned without trouble and just as readily, if not more readily, than dry blanks or plates, since the suction action of the cup is increased When the surface of the plate or sheet is coated with oil or grease.

It will be observed that by the exceedingly simple manner of attaching the cup to the handle member 5 when the cup by usage loses its resiliency and flexibility, it may be readily removed and replaced with a new cup by simply unscrewing the screw 11, removing the old cup therefrom and applying such screw to a new cup and screwing the same again into the threaded opening of the handle member 5. Likewise the facing 17 of the releasing lever, where such a facing is employed, may be readily and easily removed and replaced whenever required.

While I have described my invention as a useful implement in connection with feeding sheet metal blanks to die presses, it is to be understood that my invention is not to be limited or restricted in respect to the use to which it is to be put as it is well adapted for many other uses and in connect-ion with other machinery. It operates, however,-

more efficiently in connection. with the handling of sheet metal and other non-porous blanks or plates than with porous sheets.

Having now set forth the objects and nature of my invention and a construction ema suction cup having a hub portion to fit against one side of said handle, a securing member passing through the hub portion of the cup and through the opening in the handle to secure the cup to the handle, said securing member having an opening longitudinally therethrough, and releasable means seating against the end of said securing member to form a closure for said duct or passage.

8. In a suction lifting implement, a handle having an opening through one end thereof, a suction cup having a hub portion fitting against one side of said handle, said cup having a flaring bell-shaped mouth, the Wall of said cup being of decreasing thickness from the hub portion to the rim or edge of said mouth, a securing member passing through the hub of said cup and the opening in the handle for securing the cup to said handle, said securing member having a duct or passage extending longitudinally therethrough, and releasable means seating against the end of said securing member to form a releasable closure for said duct or passage.

4. In a suction lifting implement, a handle having an opening through one end thereof, a suction cup having a, hub portion fitting against one side of said handle, said cup-having a flaring bell-shaped mouth, the wall of said cup being of decreasing thickness from the hub portion to the rim or edge of said mouth, a securing member passing through the hub of said cup and the opening in the handle for securing the cup to said handle, said securing member having a duct or passage extending longitudinally theret-hrough, and a releasing lever pivotally mounted upon said handle and seating against the end of said securing means to form a releasable closure for said duct or channel.

5. In a suction lifting implement, a handle having an opening through one end thereof, a suction cup having a hub portion fitting against one side of said handle, said cup having a flaring bell-shaped mouth, the wall of said cup being of decreasing thickness from the hub portion to the rim or edge of said mouth, a securing member passing through the hub of said cup and the opening in the handle for securing the cup to said handle. said securing member having a duct or passage extending longitudinally therethrough. and a releasing lever pivotally mounted upon said handle and seating against the end of said securing means to form a releasable closure for said duct or channel, and a spring interposed between said releasing member and handle to normally maintain the former seated against the end of the securing member.

6. In a suction implement, a handle, a suction cup having afiaring bell-shaped mouth and a hub portion, a securing member extending through the hub portion of the cup and through said handle to secure said cup and handle together, said securing member having a duct or channel extending therethrough, a releasing member pivotally mounted upon said handle and having one end thereof extending over and seating upon the end of said securing member to form a closure for the duct or passage through said securing member.

7. In a suction implement, a handle, a suction cup having a flaring bell-shaped mouth and a hub portion, a securin member extending through the hub portion of the cup and through said handle to secure said cup between said releasing member and said handle to normally maintain the end of said releasing member releasably seated against the end of said securing member.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand on this tth day of January A. ll,

WILLIAM STADER. 

